Intel Core i7-3960X Review

BIOS

We'll just be skimming across the BIOS for the Intel i7-3960X on the DX79SI as the processor bits are largely overclocking based. Despite the main base clock being 100MHz, as it was locked to on the Sandy Bridge line, there are some multipliers in play no so that you have a broader array of ways to get the CPU speed you desire. So here we have 1.25 multiplier for 125MHz BCLK and 1.67 multi for 167MHz. This frees you from solely utilising CPU multipliers to obtain your overclock.

Similar to the overclocking options available on the LGA1155, the LGA2011 allows us to adjust the turbo multiplier based on the amount of cores being utilised, as well as altering the maximum Amps and Watts that the CPU is capable of drawing upon.

Memory multipliers are still in play, although the combination of the Host Clock Multiplier and the Memory Multiplier gives us a larger choice of RAM speeds. Instead of just having 1333MHz, 1600MHz, 1866MHz and 2133MHz, which are all fairly large leaps beyond the abilities of most RAM kits, you can also have 1666MHz and 2000MHz. It's much easier to get a 1866MHz kit to run at 2000MHz than 2133MHz, or you can tighten the timings of a 2133MHz kit without overly restricting the frequency of your RAM.

In short, there are a lot of extra options available on the Sandy Bridge E than existed on the plain Sandy Bridge.

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